New Hyundai Grand Creta launched in South Africa

Hyundai has launched the new Grand Creta in South Africa, a seven-seater SUV that stands at 4,500m long – 300mm longer than the five-seater Creta it is based on.

The Grand Creta is the same width as the standard model – 1,790mm – and measures 1,675mm high with a ground clearance of 200mm – compared to the Creta’s 1,620mm and 190mm.

The new Hyundai is available in Executive and Elite trims – with one petrol and one diesel engine on offer – and it starts at R449,900.

Standard features

The Grand Creta in Executive trim boasts a manual air conditioner with rear vents, cruise control, automatic LED lights with daytime running lights, seven full leather seats, keyless entry, a wireless charger, a rear-view camera, a multifunction steering wheel, rear parking sensors, hill-hold assist, six airbags, a 7-inch digital driver display, an 8-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 17-inch wheels.

On the pricier Elite you’ll find many of the same equipment, with the addition of LED fog lamps, ventilated front seats, an electric driver seat, rear window curtains, rear tray tables, keyless start, a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, climate control, front parking sensors, a drive mode selector with traction control, ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, tinted glass, and 18-inch alloys.

Cargo capacity for the compact seven-seater then comes in at 180 litres with all the seats up, 561 litres in five-seater mode, and 1,670 litres with only the front seats erected – or a maximum of 625kg.

Performance

Engine options for the new Grand Creta include a 2.0-litre, petrol engine putting out 117kW and 191Nm.

This powertrain returns a combined fuel consumption rating between 8.5-8.9l/100km.

In addition, a 1.5-litre, turbo-diesel unit with 85kW and 250Nm is also available, offering a 6.5l/100km consumption rating.

The cheaper Executive can be had with both a six-speed manual and six-speed automatic gearbox that drives the front wheels, whereas the pricier Elite is only offered in automatic.

For the manual specification, 100km/h is reached in 9.5 seconds while the automatics take 10.5 seconds, with top speed limited at 190km/h for the entire range.

The diesel models also support a maximum braked towing capacity of 900kg, whereas that of the petrol variants range between 1,000-1,100kg.

Price

The South African pricing and model line-up for the new Hyundai Grand Creta is as follows:

• Hyundai Grand Creta 2.0 Executive Manual – R449,900
• Hyundai Grand Creta 2.0 Executive Auto – R489,900
• Hyundai Grand Creta 1.5 Executive Diesel Auto – R509,900
• Hyundai Grand Creta 2.0 Elite Auto – R539,900
• Hyundai Grand Creta 1.5 Elite Diesel Auto – R559,900

Each purchase includes a 5-year/150,000km warranty with an additional 2-year/50,000 powertrain warranty, a 4-year/60,000km service plan, and 7-year/150,000km roadside assistance.

References: Albert du Toit (www.topauto.co.za)